Bhagvat best charity is where everything is sacrificed for the sake of God. God says “To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me”. Devotees who actually engage in devotional service with faith and love are inspired by God
TRANSLATION
O best of the brahmanas, certainly the great demoniac kings who were never reluctant to fight enjoyed this world, but in due course of time everything they had was taken away, except their reputation, by which they continue to exist. In other words, one should try to achieve a good reputation instead of anything else.
PURPORT
In this regard, Chanakya Pandita (Chanakya-shloka 34) also says, ayusham kshana eko 'pi na labhya svarna-kothibhim.
THE DURATION OF ONE'S LIFE IS EXTREMELY SHORT, BUT IF IN THAT SHORT LIFETIME ONE CAN DO SOMETHING THAT ENHANCES HIS GOOD REPUTATION, THAT MAY CONTINUE TO EXIST FOR MANY MILLIONS OF YEARS.
BALI MAHARAJA THEREFORE DECIDED NOT TO FOLLOW HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER'S INSTRUCTION THAT HE DENY HIS PROMISE TO VAMANADEVA; INSTEAD, HE DECIDED TO GIVE THE LAND ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE AND BE EVERLASTINGLY CELEBRATED AS ONE OF THE TWELVE MAHAJANAS (balir vaiyasakir vayam).
TRANSLATION
O BEST OF THE BRAHMANAS, MANY MEN HAVE LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES ON THE BATTLEFIELD, BEING UNAFRAID OF FIGHTING, BUT RARELY HAS ONE GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO GIVE HIS ACCUMULATED WEALTH FAITHFULLY TO A SAINTLY PERSON WHO CREATES HOLY PLACES.
PURPORT
Many kshatriyas have laid down their lives on the battlefield for their nations, but hardly a person can be found who has given up all his property and his accumulated wealth in charity to a person worthy of the gift. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (17.20):
"THAT GIFT WHICH IS GIVEN OUT OF DUTY, AT THE PROPER TIME AND PLACE, TO A WORTHY PERSON, AND WITHOUT EXPECTATION OF RETURN IS CONSIDERED TO BE CHARITY IN THE MODE OF GOODNESS."
Thus charity given in the proper place is called sattvika.
And above this charity in goodness is transcendental charity, in which everything is sacrificed for the sake of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Vamanadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, had come to Bali Maharaja for alms. How could one get such an opportunity to give charity? Therefore, Bali Maharaja decided without hesitation to give the Lord whatever He wanted. One may get various opportunities to lay down his life on the battlefield, but such an opportunity as this is hardly ever obtained.
TRANSLATION
Shri Shukadeva Gosvami continued: Thereafter, the spiritual master, Shukracharya, being inspired by the Supreme Lord, cursed his exalted disciple Bali Maharaja, who was so magnanimous and fixed in truthfulness that instead of respecting his spiritual master's instructions, he wanted to disobey his order.
PURPORT
The difference between the behavior of Bali Maharaja and that of his spiritual master, Shukracharya, was that Bali Maharaja had already developed love of Godhead, whereas Shukracharya, being merely a priest of routine rituals, had not. Thus Shukracharya was never inspired by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to develop in devotional service. As stated by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gita (10.10):
"To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me."
Devotees who actually engage in devotional service with faith and love are inspired by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vaishnavas are never concerned with ritualistic smarta-brahmanas. Shrila Sanatana Gosvami has therefore compiled Hari-bhakti-vilasa to guide the Vaishnavas, who never follow the smarta-vidhi.
Although the Supreme Lord is situated in the core of everyone's heart, unless one is a Vaishnava, unless one is engaged in devotional service, one does not get sound advice by which to return home, back to Godhead. Such instructions are meant only for devotees. Therefore in this verse the word daiva-prahitam, "being inspired by the Supreme Lord," is important.
Shukracharya should have encouraged Bali Maharaja to give everything to Lord Vishnu. This would have been a sign of love for the Supreme Lord. But he did not do so. On the contrary, he wanted to punish his devoted disciple by cursing him.
